Cord or cable terminal



Aug. 1l, 1936. E. G. oPPENHElM 2,050,855

. CORD OR CABLE TERMINAL Filed April l2, 1935 @www1 x;

jg -1NVENT0R.

ATTORNEY.

Patented il, lg

.lohn A. Roeblings Sons mi N. J., a. corporation oi New gor e@ Trentina,

Application April l2, i935, Se No. 15,998

2 Claims.

This invention relates to cord or cable terminals.

While the invention is applicable to various types of metal center cords of the type compris- 5 ing a wire strand center and braided cover of cotton or other fibre, it is particularly adaptable to cords or cables employed for signal or register apparatus, brake and steering connections. for use as connections inv loom harness and many other uses, where considerable strength and little or no stretching is required.

It is an object of the inventionto provide a cord terminal of maximum strength and emciency.

With this general object and others in view, the invention consists in the construction and combinations of parts that will i'lrst be described in connection with the accompanying drawing and then more particularly pointed out in the claims. y Y

In the drawing,

Figure l is a longitudinal sectionalview of a cord terminal of preferred type constructed in accordance with the invention, showing the ter- 25 vminal before compression;

Figure 2 is a similar view after compression;

Figure 3 is an end view of the dead end of the completed terminal, and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the same.

Referring to the drawing," the terminal comprises a. cord end and a ferrule thereon. While the cord may vary in construction, the cord ii here shown as an example is composed of braided fabric i2 over a core or center i3 in the forni of a. strand of wires of steel or other suitable material.

'The end of cord H is embraced by and anchored in a tubular ferrule it. The end of the terminal where the cord enters the ferrule may be termed the live end and the other e'nd may be termed the dead end.

4In accordance with the present invention, the ferrule is compressed on the enclosed end of the cord in such a manner that the degree or extent of compression varies progressively from a minimum at the live end of the terminal to a maximum at the dead end. This may be accomplished, for example, by inserting the end of the cord in a cylindrical tube and then so applying pressure to the assembled` parts that the tube is attened in two opposing faces that converge toward each other in the direction of the dead end of the terminal (Figure 2). In other words, the dead end of the terminal (Figure 3) has a relatively great attening or compression and the live end has a lesser hatten.- ing or compression. Putting it another way, the ferrule oi the nal terminal has a tapered cross t section in one plane (Figure 2) and an un- (Cl. 24u-129) tapered or less tapered cross section in a pl at right angles thereto.

While the ferrule may vary in construction and relative dimensions, the dimensions shown have been found very satisfactory for many uses, that is, the wall thickness, before compression, being about one fourth the inside diameter and the length about seven times the cord diameter. The size of the cord may vary, of course, in accordance with the use desired, but the sizes most in Buse vary from FA; to inch diameter.

A ferrule may be used having an inner bore roughened or serrated to provide a firm grip on the cord. v'This may conveniently be accomplished by threading the bore of the ferrule, such a thread being indicated at i5. The thread crests, when the ferrule is iiattened, bite into the cord fabric and increase the gripping emciency.

The invention in its entirety includes provision for attachment of the terminal. While the attaching means may vary, in the embodiment here shown as an examplefnear the dead end oi the terminal is a hole i@ which serves as an attaching eye. This hole may conveniently be drilled after the i'errule has been compressed on the cord. I

With the construction described, a high degree of eiiiciency is attained. The anchoring torce is distributed ually throughout the length of the terminal instead of being limited to or concentrated at the point of entrance of the cord, as would be the case if the ierrule had a uniform degree of compression throughout its length. As a result, danger of dae to the cord at the entrance end is entirely or largely eliminated, and the full strength of the cord is secured in the terminal attac if, The stretching of the braid under tension produces gripping of the wire center by the braid and the wire center finally takes up the load.

What is claimed is:

l. A cord terminal comprising', in combination with the end of a cord comprising a wire center and fibre covering, a hollow ferrule embracing the end of the cord and compressed thereon, the extent of compression progressively varying throughout the length of the ierrule from a minimum at the live end of the terminal to a maximum at the dead'end.

2. A cord terminal comprising, in combination with the end of a cord co prising a wire center and a braided fabric c ne. e. hollow ierrule embracing the end of tu. cord. and compressed thereon, the extent of compression progressively varying throughout the length of the ierrule from a minimum at the live end of the terminal to a maximum at the de end. 

